How to Change the Leather Color of a Dining Room Chair

Recolor a Leather Chair

So you want to change the leather color of your dining room chair. That's a smart way to change the look of the dining set and modernize or update a look that's tired. You can use a leather restaining kit to completely recolor your leather, add a monogram or just to refresh the original color, especially when time or cleaning products have degraded the original finish. Recoloring leather is generally a simple three-step process that involves removing the old sealer, adding the new color and then resealing.

Things You'll Need

• Protective drop cloth Latex or rubber gloves Good lighting for color matching Cotton swab for test applications Saddle soap or other leather clearner (see Step 1)

Instructions

1. Clean the leather thoroughly with saddle soap or another leather cleaner. Be sure you're not using a product with an aniline finish, as it will place a protective seal over the leather that can make it resistant to new pigments. On the ingredients list, anything that starts with the prefix "anil" is suspect.

2. Be sure that you've completely buffed away any residue from the leather cleaner before you proceed. The leather should be left conditioned and supple, not stiff or crispy.

3. Apply the leather refinishing product you've chosen. Products like "Back to nature Nu Leather" are easy to apply--they wipe on like a wood stain. Other products like Liquid Leather, Tarrago Self-Shine Leather Dye and Leather Luster are available in spray, brush-on or gel forms that need to be massaged into the leather. A brush-on is good for small areas and detailed leather work, like stenciled monogramming. A spray is suitable for large areas where a mottled finish is acceptable, and a wipe-on method gives you the most control over color depth and tone.

4. Allow your leather to rest for up to 24 hours after restaining. If the manufacturer of your stain requires you to use a sealer, apply it now (unless their instructions state otherwise). Be sure to buff it in as much as possible, to get the smoothest finish.

References

• How to Dye Leather
• Guide to Repairing Leather
• Refinishing Leather Furniture